§ MR. J. WILSON rose, pursuant to notice, to put the following questions to the 415 Secretary for Foreign Affairs:—"Whether any communication had been received from the Danish Government on the subject of the entry of the Prussian troops into Holstein, and with the object of soliciting the interference of this country by mediation or otherwise; and whether any information had been received by the Government of the expected blockade of the Elbe, should the Germanic Confederation continue their interference between the King of Denmark and his subjects in Holstein; and whether any steps had been taken, and what, by this Government, to secure an amicable settlement of the existing disputes between Holstein-Schleswig and the Government in Copenhagen?" He would add, that he hoped the noble Lord would be able to remove the great anxiety felt in consequence of letters received that morning; for it appeared that the Prussian troops had already crossed the Eider into the Duchy of Schleswig, which did not belong to the Germanic Confederation, and that the troops of Hanover and Brunswick were crossing the Elbe to co-operate with the Prussian troops.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTON: Her Majesty's Government have received several communications from both the Danish Government and the Prussian Government upon these matters; in point of fact, we have been in communication with both Governments. The desire of Her Majesty's Government has naturally been to employ its good offices, if possible, in bringing these differences to an amicable, a friendly termination; and we have intimated both to the Danish Government and the Prussian, that if our good offices can be useful for that purpose, we shall be most happy so to employ them. I should hope, from the disposition which has been expressed by both parties, that that overture may be accepted. Nothing certainly could be more deplorable than that the peace of Europe should be disturbed on account of a dispute of such a nature as this. With regard to an intimation from the Danish Government of naval operations, undoubtedly if the hostilities were to continue, I should think it would be probable that the Danish Government, being strong at sea, would resort to measures of interruption to the maritime commerce of Prussia, and possibly of Hamburgh, if Hamburgh were to take an active part; but if, on the other hand, these matters should become the subject of peaceful negotiation, one should hope that any interruption of that sort 416 would not take place. I have not received official information of the crossing of the Holstein frontier by Prussian troops; but, at the same time, from information I have received, I think it not at all improbable that it may have taken place.
§ MR. DISRAELI inquired whether the Court of Denmark had called upon the Court of St. James's to fulfil its guarantee of the Duchy of Schleswig to the Crown of Denmark, under the Treaty of 1720?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTON: The Court of Denmark has undoubtedly appealed to the guarantee given by the Treaty of 1720. I should observe that the interference of the Germanic Confederation in these matters does not profess to be an interference with a view of conquering; it is an interference with reference to internal questions which have arisen between the Danish Government and the inhabitants of Holstein-Schleswig.